The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release has asked for the status quo to be maintained in the Doklam area as before 16 June 2017.

The ministry said that in view of the many queries raised recently in the media regarding the Bhutan-China boundary in the Doklam area the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wanted to convey its stand.

“On 16th June 2017, the Chinese Army started constructing a motorable road from Dokala in the Doklam area towards the Bhutan Army camp at Zompelri,” said the release.

The Ministry said that boundary talks are ongoing between Bhutan and China and both countries have written agreements of 1988 and 1998 stating that the two sides agree to maintain peace and tranquility in their border areas pending a final settlement on the boundary question, and to maintain status quo on the boundary as before March 1959.

The agreements also state that the two sides will refrain from taking unilateral action, or use of force, to change the status quo of the boundary.

“Bhutan has conveyed to the Chinese side, both on the ground and through the diplomatic channel, that the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the agreements and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between our two countries,” said the release.

The release concluded saying that Bhutan hopes that the status quo in the Doklam area will be maintained as before 16 June 2017.